In the USA, one can get 2% OTC progesterone cream if progesterone levels are low, otherwise the wives need it. This is more direct than pregnenolone supplements. But you can’t get your hands on these things in Canada.
DHEA does not lead to cortisol at all. DHEA supplements will not increase cortisol.
If DHEA levels are good without supplementation, pregnenolone levels must be OK and then probably then not a limiting factor for cortisol production. [/quote]
What is the context in which this comment was born out of?
[/quote]
Adrenal hormone cascade. Progesterone is converted to cortisol. DHEA is too far in the other direction and can’t go there. Pregnenolone is converted to DHEA and pregnenolone. If DHEA is good, pregnenolone levels must be adequate.
4x saliva cortisol results are in. I don’t really know what to make of this, they seem pretty optimal to me. Why my cholesterol is sky high remains a mystery, unless it’s the 20 pounds I could lose causing it. My fatigue levels have been better of late, but I’ve also been back on an ssri - maybe any remaining issues I have are in my head, and not in my hormones.
7am: 6.9 range 3.7-9.5 ng/mL
Noon: 2.7 range 1.2-3.0 ng/mL
5pm: 1.2 range 0.6-1.9 ng/mL
10pm (bed): 0.6 range 0.35-1.0 ng/mL
Why not stay on it for a little bit to gauge the side effects. Aren’t most side effects transient?
Jus’ to get some clarification for myself as I’ve read through this thing in a bit of a hurry:
Up until the summer of 2010, you were on a T+HcG+AI protocol that you had success with but in order to improve fertility you decided to stop TRT. Obviously, you felt worse afterwords and currently on a T+HcG protocol with a small improvement from stopping the TRT. The only missing counter-part being the AI.
Is this the same AI that you tried before with success? It seems you were at your best when your estradiol numbers were @22. What am I missing?
After re-reading this post to ensure accuracy, it seems that this sounds rude but I assure you it is not. I’m jus’ trying to understand what’s going on.
[quote]B WS6 wrote:
Why not stay on it for a little bit to gauge the side effects. Aren’t most side effects transient?
Jus’ to get some clarification for myself as I’ve read through this thing in a bit of a hurry:
Up until the summer of 2010, you were on a T+HcG+AI protocol that you had success with but in order to improve fertility you decided to stop TRT. Obviously, you felt worse afterwords and currently on a T+HcG protocol with a small improvement from stopping the TRT. The only missing counter-part being the AI.
Is this the same AI that you tried before with success? It seems you were at your best when your estradiol numbers were @22. What am I missing?
After re-reading this post to ensure accuracy, it seems that this sounds rude but I assure you it is not. I’m jus’ trying to understand what’s going on.[/quote]
Not rude. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my thread, and it’s been a little all over the place in terms of the path I’ve taken, some in my control, some outside - so it’s easy to misunderstand.
But no, I am indeed on an AI again, have been for a while, and am noticing the same joint pain I had the last time I took it - I just didnt realize at the time it was due to the AI, hence my question today.
I am going to ride it out for a bit for sure, if for no other reason than my body needs something steady for a period of more than a few months.
So are you re-evaluting your TRT protocol because of jus’ joint pain or are you still feeling a little fatigued, depressed and/or anxious?
Could I ask what your libido was before and during TRT? It was discovered I had hypogonadism because I had a lack of libido. I attributed my fatigued state due to my poor lifestyle choices but maybe the low testosterone had more to do with it than I thought. I am contemplating undergoing TRT for an improved libido currently.
[quote]B WS6 wrote:
So are you re-evaluting your TRT protocol because of jus’ joint pain or are you still feeling a little fatigued, depressed and/or anxious?
Could I ask what your libido was before and during TRT? It was discovered I had hypogonadism because I had a lack of libido. I attributed my fatigued state due to my poor lifestyle choices but maybe the low testosterone had more to do with it than I thought. I am contemplating undergoing TRT for an improved libido currently.[/quote]
I would like to be on TRT without the need for any AI, honestly. We’ll see if that’s possible. The fatigue/depression/anxiety seem to be alleviating themselves slowly.
Re: libido - yes, I tend to want sex all the time now, where as before TRT, I could go weeks, even months, and not even care.
when you Google for side effects of arimidex, most everything you will find will be for females taking 1mg/day to drive E2–>0, this does not apply to males optimizing E2 levels.
[quote]KSman wrote:
when you Google for side effects of arimidex, most everything you will find will be for females taking 1mg/day to drive E2–>0, this does not apply to males optimizing E2 levels.[/quote]
Understood.
Perhaps I am driving my T levels too far past my genetic set point, and if I were to reduce dose somewhat, my E2 wouldnt be so crazy. Thoughts?
I am currently looking at a trough level of 650 or so. I guess my peak would be around 1000, but that’s only going off one previous test that was 24 hours following 50mg.
I understand that the optimal levels of E2 are in the mid-20’s. Is E2 tolerance subjected to individual variances? Even though an E2 of 22 might be the standard, would NeelyDan feel better if it was 32?
Well…none major to speak of. Mood is stable. Energy is decent. Ability to adapt to stress has increased. Erections every morning, erection quality decent, erections on demand.
I have yet to get back into the gym, but will be doing so soon.
My main concern is my cholesterol levels - quite high, tho in the face of a very low inflammation marker, not as critical as they could be. Advice on how to lower those numbers appreciated - they were the same before arimidex came into play, fyi.
Hi guys I am new to the T Nation site. I have some question to ask, I just got my labs back from my DR and they are some what confusing to me. I am on H R T. for 3 years and have had problems with high Cholesterol, and low sex drive. There is a lot of info here for me to read and I have been trying to get in here and get it done. What I need to know is how I can take my T, AND MAKE IT WORK best for me, with out have my triglycerides go up and maybe make some fast recovery from my work outs. Any ways I m 46 this July 5feet 9 inc tall 175 pds a history of diabetes I have 3 bulging disc in my lumbar back, one kidney to boot.
I am not sure how to post my labs but here we go. As of 06/05/13 calcium serum 8.9 Protein 6.2 Albumin 3.8 Globulin total 2.4 Cholesterol total 195 Triglycerides 219. My HDL is 37 and my LDL is 114. Hemoglobin ALC is 5.8 Testosterone Serum is 242 TSH 1.790 any ways I am not sure if you guys can help me or not I would like to hear from some one on what they think. any help with this would be great thanks. I train three or more times a week and work in the low desert in palm springs ca. very hot this time of year. I sprint a lot do to my lower back injury’s. I do a lot of pull ups and dip’s and core and flexibility traing as well.
hey dan I was wondering if you are still seeing Dr. Komer or was it just the one appointment you had with him? who did you get for help with HRT in the GTA ? thank you
